Money was an important presence no matter the world.
Putting aside weapons and martial techniques, even daily necessities required money.
The Iron Bones Clang Clang Sect did not have any money as the previous disciples had used the remaining assets the sect had to try to save Sect Leader Wang from jail through their connections.
But what happened in the end?
The money had not been sent out for long before Sect Leader Wang was beheaded for breaking out of prison.
The Iron Bones Clang Clang Sect already had to scrimp and save to begin with, but after that, things got worse. The two disciples were unable to hang on, and after having their last meal together, each went back to their own homes.
Jun Changxiao, who had traversed there, spent his days eating on plain buns and drinking water from the mountains for all three meals.
The noodles that Lu Qianqian ate when she joined the sect were something he had asked the village's Auntie Wang for.
The Iron Bones Clang Clang Sect needed to develop, but they had to earn money as well!
Therefore, Sect Leader Jun made use of the remaining time of the discernment charm's effect to start his first journey of earning money in an alternate world!
People who had not mocked him wanted to ask for his guidance?
A hundred taels!
People who had mocked him and the Iron Bones Sect wanted to ask for his guidance?
Two hundred taels!
It was a small business, and no negotiations were allowed.
As Jun Changxiao had comprehended the ninth stance of the Nine Stances Wavestack Sword and had even given guidance to the Azure Mountain Sect's Elder, the various sects' cultivators still paid to seek for his guidance despite experiencing heartaches over the money.
Within a short thirty minutes, Jun Changxiao had given pointers to twenty cultivators, resolving their problems and earning over three thousand taels.
Seeing the increasing number of silver notes accumulating in his interspatial ring, he thought happily, Although I can't sell medicine, I can use the items from the merchant store to earn money!
"Sect Leader Jun." He had just given pointers to a cultivator on the areas he was lacking in his fist art cultivation when Clanlord Li came over. It was with much difficulty that he said, "I also have a problem and hope that you can give me guidance."
The Nine Stances Wavestack Sword was undoubtedly an attempt to make things difficult for him.
But seeing how so many people were leaving happily after benefiting from his guidance, he was tempted to get the martial art problem that had been troubling him for many years resolved.
"Sure."
Jun Changxiao smiled and said, "One thousand taels."
"What?"
Clanlord Li could hardly stand steadily on his feet as he exclaimed, "One thousand taels?"
Jun Changxiao smiled and said, "That's right, one thousand taels."
"…"
Everyone's lips twitched slightly.
This guy was clearly making things difficult for Clanlord Li. It must be because Clanlord Li had tried to stop his son from joining the Iron Bones Sect earlier.
"Sect Leader Jun," Clanlord Li said, feeling crushed, "other people are only charged two hundred taels at most. Why do I need to pay one thousand taels?"
Jun Changxiao smiled and said, "Looking at your attire, Clanlord Li, it's clear that you aren't short of money."
Hearing this, Clanlord Li almost stopped breathing from fury. That's right, I have money, but that doesn't mean that my money came out of nowhere!
"Sect Leader Jun," Clanlord Li said in a deep voice, "are you treating me as an easy target?"
Jun Changxiao smiled and replied, "You can see it that way."
"You…" Clanlord Li was furious.
At the thought of how he was the one asking for a favor, he forcibly suppressed his fury.
"Sect leader." Li Qingyang walked up and said, "Please give my father a discount on my account."
Jun Changxiao stroked his chin, giving it some thought before saying, "Alright, considering that you're the father of our sect's disciple, I'll give you a discount. It'll be one tael."
The various sects' cultivators almost fell off their feet.
For a price of one thousand taels to be discounted to one tael… this was unprecedented!
…
Since Jun Changxiao wanted Li Qingyang to stay, he did not make things hard for Clanlord Li on purpose. Therefore, Jun Changxiao merely gave a price, calling it a friendly discount, and then gave him guidance on the martial art problem he was facing.
"So, that's it. That's it indeed!"
After receiving guidance, Clanlord Li seemed as if he was struck by a sudden flash of insight.
He still had doubt over Jun Changxiao's earlier demonstration of the ninth stance, but he now completely approved of the latter after getting the martial art problem that had stumped him for many years resolved.
His son's future achievements would definitely be very high by staying in the Iron Bones Sect and studying under him!
Clanlord Li was not the only one. The various sects' cultivators who had benefited from his guidance all realized that this person, whom they had looked down on previously, was not simple!
One discernment charm not only allowed Jun Changxiao to earn quite a number of silver taels but also allowed him to gain a lot of prestige. It could be said to be killing two birds with one stone.
No.
It was killing three birds with one stone!
When Sect Leader Jun was helping to give guidance, he also took the opportunity to learn their martial techniques and cultivation arts!
Although their grades were low, there was a comprehensive range including sword arts, fist arts, cultivation arts, and palm arts. It would normally cost several thousand taels to buy these.
Big earnings, crazy earnings!
"Everyone." After giving another cultivator guidance, Jun Changxiao announced with a hint of fatigue on his face, "I'm tired. The guidance will end here."
"Sect Leader Jun, don't!"
The cultivators who had not gotten their turn yet became anxious.
One cultivator even took out four silver notes and said, "Sect Leader Jun, I'm willing to pay four hundred taels!"
Jun Changxiao shook his head and said, "My mind has been strained too much after giving so many people guidance. It'll be hard for me to recover even after ten days to half a month."
He wanted to continue earning money, but after giving guidance to the last cultivator, the discernment charm's effect happened to end.
Jun Changxiao had wanted to make another exchange, but after opening up the merchant store, he saw that the discernment charm was grayed out, with notification—'This item has a purchase limit of one per month.'
Damn.
The purchases for the recovery pill were limited, as were the charms.
Was it possible to get along happily? Was it possible to earn money happily?
Without the discernment charm's reinforcement, Jun Changxiao would be as if he was struck back to his original state. Therefore, he could only act as if he was very tired.
"Sigh."
The various sects' cultivators returned dejectedly, and the Hundred Sects Recruitment, which had been interrupted earlier, continued.
"Qingyang," Clanlord Li said, "learn well from Sect Leader Jun. Don't disappoint me."
"Yes." Li Qingyang nodded.
Clanlord Li exchanged a few words with Jun Changxiao, appearing to be currying up to him, and then returned home hurriedly. He wanted to go into seclusion to digest the pointers he had received.
…
"Father, I want to join the Iron Bones Sect!"
"Father, mother, I've thought about it. I want to join the Iron Bones Sect!"
"Goudan'er, what are you still hesitating for? Come on, let's quickly go sign up for the Iron Bones Sect!"
The Hundred Sects Recruitment continued, and the young men and women who had been contemplating which sect to join now gushed toward the Iron Bones Sect, fighting to register their names!
They were tempted after Li Qingyang joined the Iron Bones Clang Clang Sect. Thereafter, they saw how Jun Changxiao had given martial arts guidance to the Azure Mountain Sect's Elder as well as other sects' cultivators. They naturally did not hesitate to head over and sign up!
Earlier on, the other sects' booths had been very lively, and there was no one asking about the Iron Bones Sect.
But now, the various sects' booths were empty. Instead, the Iron Bones Sect's booth was flooding with people!
"Don't push, don't push!" Jun Changxiao shouted. "One at a time!"
"Qingyang!"
"Don't just stand there. Come over and help out."
As there were too many young men and women signing up, Jun Changxiao was at a loss.
This would not do. It would not do at all.
There were too many people. He needed to pick out the outstanding ones!
Jun Changxiao ordered his first and second disciple to get the interested parties to fill out the application form to join the sect. He would then decide if they would be accepted based on their aptitude and cultivation.
The main mission given by the system was to turn the Iron Bones Clang Clang Sect into the strongest sect.
What would be considered strong?
It had to be that both the sect and the disciples were strong!
If he randomly chose a bunch of people to make up the numbers, the sects' grade would not be able to improve if they were not strong enough. It would be all for nothing then.
Jun Changxiao understood very clearly that what he needed right now was high quality people. Therefore, he secretly set the requirement that the lowest tier for entry into the Iron Bones Sect was to have a mid-grade spirit root. It would be even better if they had high-grade spirit roots!
However, after a round of tabulation, there were only ten of them with mid-grade spirit roots among the several hundred applications. The others were either low-grade or mortal-grade spirit roots. There were none with high-grade spirit roots.
Although Qingyang City was the capital of Qingyang County, it was a small place. It was already quite good for there to be a Li Qingyang with a high-grade spirit root.
They might be a little weak, but let's bring the sect's numbers up to the limit of one hundred first.
Jun Changxiao picked up the sect leader seal and stamped down on the forms of those with mid-grade spirit roots.
Ding!
"Sect Members: 4/100!"
Ding!
"Sect Contribution Points: 11/100."